People urged to save water as dry spell continues
Taipei, Aug.1 (CNA) Taiwan’s residents should minimize water consumption as the country’s reservoirs are drying out, water resources officials warned Saturday.
Because of less-than-usual rainfall this summer, water levels at major reservoirs around Taiwan have fallen to alarmingly low levels, said Chen Shen-hsien, director-general of the Water Resources Agency under the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The situation at Shihmen Reservoir in northern Taiwan is the most serious, with its water level standing at 224.3 meters Friday evening, close to the “shortage level” of 220 meters, Chen said.
Shihmen Reservoir is a major source of potable water in the northern county of Taoyuan. At present, water supply for household use has been cut by 10 percent and that for agricultural use by 25 percent.
If the situation continues to worsen, supply for agricultural use may be cut further, Chen said.
He further said his agency will make every possible effort to refrain from any further cut into water supply for household use before October. (By Sofia Wu)
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